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Aquattro
03-06-2012, 08:59 PM
Ok, so I was just reminded that I have seen the Sols in action, and I recall not liking them. This was due to the disco ball effect, something that really drives me with LEDs.
For current owners, do you see this or not? If not, what optics do you have and what height are your lights at?

MarkoD
03-06-2012, 09:09 PM
Yup it even happens with radions. But I only noticed it the first week. You get used to it

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:14 PM
When I saw Shelley's Radion, it did not do it as far as I could tell, and I looked specifically for that.

MarkoD
03-06-2012, 09:15 PM
When I saw Shelley's Radion, it did not do it as far as I could tell, and I looked specifically for that.
If you look at shadow areas you'll see it. Also the higher the lights the less noticeable it is.

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:18 PM
I guess it can also depend on landscaping in the tank, but it wasn't noticeable in her tank with Radions.
When I saw a 220g with Sols on it last year, I didn't like that at all. It was that tank that turned me off LEDs.

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:21 PM
Marko, you're are the stock mix of 40/70 optics?

parkinsn
03-06-2012, 09:22 PM
When I saw Shelley's Radion, it did not do it as far as I could tell, and I looked specifically for that.

I can see it on the white dry rock in my tank with my radion.

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:23 PM
I can see it on the white dry rock in my tank with my radion.

Ok, it might be tank specific, her's doesn't have any bare white areas :)

jorjef
03-06-2012, 09:27 PM
I have mine about 12" above the water with the stock 40/70 and see what I call shimmer, but I've never had halides to compare to. There is very little flat spots in my tank with the rock in the back and the sand almost covered with various corals so this might help.

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:38 PM
What I'm referring to is the separation of blue and white light, giving a disco effect. It bothers my brain..

jorjef
03-06-2012, 09:42 PM
I'm going to check when I get home. I can't remember it being noticable but will look for it in particular.

MarkoD
03-06-2012, 09:49 PM
Yes mine are stock optics. If you don't wanna see it, you can put a diffuser. But that would cut down the light too

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:50 PM
Yes mine are stock optics. If you don't wanna see it, you can put a diffuser. But that would cut down the light too

If I go with three units, I'm going to need all the light they put out :)

MarkoD
03-06-2012, 09:50 PM
It'll also depend on the white/ blue ratio you run

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:53 PM
It'll also depend on the white/ blue ratio you run

I like more blue than white. I currently run Radiums and would like to stay close to that..

Borderjumper
03-06-2012, 09:54 PM
Ok, it might be tank specific, her's doesn't have any bare white areas :)
:focus:

I don't see any disco balls.. Hey I Can see the sand in a few places in my tank!

MarkoD
03-06-2012, 09:56 PM
I like more blue than white. I currently run Radiums and would like to stay close to that..

I run 100 on blues and 75 white and I can see it only if I look for it. Never when looking at the tank as a whole

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 09:57 PM
:focus:

. Hey I Can see the sand in a few places in tank!

Probably just a sand colored colony of something or other!!

cuz
03-06-2012, 10:10 PM
BBLINKS has a few good pics of his tank with AI's to look at as well.. After chatting with him and looking at his tank pics I think I'm going to go with AI's as well..

Oscar
03-06-2012, 10:57 PM
I run 100 on blues and 75 white and I can see it only if I look for it. Never when looking at the tank as a whole

Marko: Somebody posted last week that you did a side by side comparison with Radion. Could you post the link?

Thanks

MarkoD
03-06-2012, 11:06 PM
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=81744&highlight=radion+sol

mark
03-06-2012, 11:42 PM
not sure what is meant by the disco ball effect. Are you saying you'll getting coloured spots on stuff in the tank?

Aquattro
03-06-2012, 11:45 PM
not sure what is meant by the disco ball effect. Are you saying you'll getting coloured spots on stuff in the tank?

Pretty much. If you look closely at some areas, you see flickering of blue and white. Almost a strobe effect.

Bblinks
03-06-2012, 11:56 PM
I'll try to take a video of it and post it. I don't really notice the flickering, maybe its because I have a few more units on the tank then what most people would use.

apexfd is running 3 out of 4 on his tank, I will ask him to chime on this topic.

intarsiabox
03-06-2012, 11:57 PM
When I first set up my tank with the Sols I didn't see any disco ball effect but after I put a glass lid on the tank there are a few spots with this effect. Mostly in shadowy spots from rock overhangs. The condensation bubbles on the glass are what is causing it in my tank. Two years ago I did see a tank with LEDs and I started getting a headache after looking at it for just a few moments. It took me 2 years after seeing this to consider trying LEDs on my own tank. For this reason I went with the cheaper Sols in case I hated the lights but it is really nice and I have great bright coverage and I'm only up to 60% so far.

subman
03-07-2012, 03:07 AM
I think the Radions have a disco feature lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd4U5M4t_IU

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